Police charge 11-year-old boy in Norwich arson

Norwich – Police have arrested an 11-year-old boy on a felon arson charge for setting a fire that partially destroyed an unoccupied home at 367 Boswell Ave.

One firefighter was injured while fighting the June 5 fire. The city fire department had gone into the home searching for a trapped occupant based on eyewitness reports. No one, as it turned out, was in the home.

The 11-year-old is charged with first-degree arson, third-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief.

Police said investigation determined three other boys, one 11-year-old and two 12-year-olds, also had entered the home and caused damage prior to the fire. All three were charged with third-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief.

The boys were not taken into custody but will be arraigned at a later date at the Waterford Juvenile Court.

The Norwich Fire Marshal’s Office worked with Norwich Officer Robert Smith and Detective Joseph Lombardi from the state fire marshal’s office to determine the cause of the fire was incendiary in nature.

Police said no additional arrests are anticipated and no additional information will be released.

Anyone with information regarding fires suspected of being arson are asked to call the Norwich Police Department’s Tip Line at 860-886-5561, Extension 500, or the Connecticut Arson Hot Line at 800-84ARSON. The Norwich Police Department is determined to bring the investigation of all suspected arson cases in the City to a definitive and successful conclusion.